Energy Cereal, Bread and Butter Pudding

Breakfast will always be your most important meal of the day. So before you get busy with work eat up these treats.

Ingredients
• 6 slices day-old bread
• 40g energy cereals
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Break bread into small pieces into an 8-inch square-baking
pan. Drizzle melted butter or margarine over bread. If desired,
sprinkle with raisins.
3. In a medium-mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar,
cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread,
and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and
soaking up the egg mixture. Sprinkle the energy cereals on top.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top
springs back when lightly tapped.

 COOKING TIPS:
So it is your turn to cook and you have the
whole family coming for lunch, remember that preparation is
important. Any cooking success depends on how well prepared
you are, regardless of whether you are cooking for two or 12
people.
Here are five easy steps to follow for your cooking:

PREPARE A MENU

Decide your menu early in the day down to what ingredients you wish to use.
How many courses will you be cooking? If you added starters, choose a soup that can be prepared in advance or cold salad that is quick to prepare. Again choose a dessert easy to cook in advance.
Stick to your decision, changing your mind may cause unnecessary stress.
Keep it simple; choose easy to prepare meals that you have cooked before.
Don’t make it hard on yourself; you also need time to play host and enjoy yourself!
Consider your guests’ dietary requirements to avoid last minute changes or disappointment.

GET YOUR INGREDIENTS
Now would be a good time to buy the table decorations and wine.

Write a shopping list to help you focus and get all the required ingredients.
Buy most ingredients in advance it will help avoid the last minute crowds if you get as many ingredients as possible in advance.
Stick to the list and budget. It is easy to get distracted.
Reserve your last minute shopping trip for the fres ingredients only about two days before.
If you intend to slaughter a goat for mbuzi choma as it is tradition with most Kenyan families, buy your goat earl enough to avoid the high prices.

GET ORGANISED

In the morning of the cook out remove any frozen ingredients from freezer and keep in the fridge.
It is best to do so early, depending on the ingredient as thawing may take long.
Prepare as much as you can, including the dessert, in advance
of Christmas.
If you bought frozen gateaux, remove it from the freezer; some desserts have to be consumed within three hours so check the label.
You can peel vegetables and leave them in water until the day after.
Marinate tofu or fish overnight for better flavour.
Chill white wine bottles in the fridge.
Decorate the table early, as it is another task you shouldn’t worry about.

ON THE D-DAY

Calculate your cooking time.
If lunch is at 1pm and your three-course meal takes three hours to prepare, do not start cooking later than 10 am.
Always allow an extra hour for putting the ingredients together; it only seems to take less time in theory.
Once you are happy that you have all you need, switch on the oven and start cooking.
Try not to get distracted and check on the food regularly.
Invite someone into the kitchen to help you. This also saves
you from having to leave the kitchen unattended to play host.
Cook your vegetables last; sprouts only take 2.5 minutes to
cook.